Josef Korbel School of International Studies

Center for Middle East Studies

Welcome!

Welcome to the Center for Middle East Studies (CMES) at the University of Denver's Josef Korbel School of International Studies. CMES is an interdisciplinary institution dedicated to the study of Middle Eastern politics, history, and culture. We seek to engage the University of Denver community and broader public in informed discussion on topics of regional importance in an effort to deepen understanding of this critical region of the world.

To join the discussion and learn about upcoming events and publications, please subscribe to our Email List by contacting us at MEC@du.edu. We hope to see and hear from you!

New CMES occasional Paper published

The Holocaust & the Arab-Israeli War of Narratives:Critical Dialogues with Gilbert Achcar

CMES is proud to present the third in our series of Occasional Papers: "The Holocaust and the Arab-Israeli War of Narratives—Critical Dialogues with Gilbert Achcar." In May we hosted Achcar, Professor of Development Studies and International Relations at SOAS, the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies, for two robust days of lectures and conversations, including a spirited panel discussion on his acclaimed book The Arabs and the Holocaust: The Arab-Israeli War of Narratives. His interlocutors were Ira Chernus, Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Colorado at Boulder, and Adam Rovner, Associate Professor of English and Jewish Literature at the University of Denver. CMES Director Nader Hashemi also sat Professor Achcar down for an interview while he was here.

This Occasional Paper is the fruit of these critical engagements with Professor Achcar, whom the French newspaper Le Monde called “one of the best analysts of the contemporary Arab world.” Access the PDF by clicking here or on the cover image above.

The conflict with isis: recent cmes events & publications

Recognizing the significance of the escalating conflict with ISIS/ISIL in Syria and Iraq, CMES is actively involved in seeking to foster greater understanding of the so-called "Islamic State" and the underlying sociopolitical factors that propelled it to prominence -- both on campus at the University of Denver and in the public sphere.

Further, CMES co-hosted a faculty teach-in with the Sié Chéou-Kang Center for International Security and Diplomacy on the first day of Fall Quarter to discuss the various options for the U.S. in combating ISIS/ISIL. Featuring Dean Christopher Hill, Sié Center Director Deborah Avant, and CMES Director Nader Hashemi, the event drew an enormous crowd and was recorded by three local television news outlets. In case you missed the event, you can watch it in its entirety below.